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| The
Clarinet usually looses out to
the Sax these days. Here are a few
of the reasons why: |
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The
Saxophone in slightly easier to learn than the clarinet. The
'second register' thumb key on a sax takes you up an octave
- but on the clarinet it takes you up an octave & a fifth.
So on the clarinet, you have to get used to a different set
on notes after pressing the thumb key (though you get a better
range).
The embouchure
is more important to get accurate on a clarinet. The sax
is a little more forgiving since badly blown notes on a
clarinet are more liable to squeak - & even if you do
produce something you didn't quite intend - on a saxophone
it can still sound cool - in fact sometimes it sounds better
than what you meant to play!
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soprano sax |
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The clarinet
requires you to cover the holes precisely with your
fingers. A tiny leak = a mighty squeek.The sax has
hinged pads that do the sealing of the holes for you,
so accuracy is not as critical.
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soprano
sax
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The Sax
is more versatile than the clarinet in modern music.
The sax is louder! & far easier to mic up. The sax
is easier to tune. If you need to sharpen a clarinet
& the mouthpiece is already fully 'home' all you
can do is get a hack saw out to cut a bit off, on the
sax you just push the mouthpiece further down the cork
on the crook.
It's easier
to 'bend' notes on a sax. In both cases this is easiest
with a 'shorter tube' - without many fingers down as
in the top of each register.
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clarinet
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| For
the Clarinet: |
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It's
cheaper! (just)
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It
has one of the widest ranges of any mono-tone
instrument with over 3 octaves. |
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On
it's own terms, it is an excellent instrument with a wonderfully
pure sound. It's almost as versatile as the sax &
is a unique player in New Orleans Jazz, Klezmer music,
Classical & more. |
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| James
at the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, Oct 2005 with Floozie
Soo |
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Being
a harder instrument to learn, someone who can play clarinet
can move with ease to the saxophone. This is not so easy the
other way round. |
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A Sax
player who has mastered the clarinet first will be a more rounded
player having had a more disciplined learning experience. |
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With
4 different Saxes to choose from, the best advice is to go for
the one which excites you most. The Soprano is fantastically
cool, but the Alto & Tenor are more broad ranging in what
you can do with them. The Baritone - a monster of a sax, is
pretty damn cool too, but alto damn expensive, heavy & the
least versatile for general playing. |
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| Soprano
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Highest
register sax (pictured left).Jan Garbarek's first choice.
Can be straight or have the classic sax shape. The smallest
sax |
| Alto |
Medium - high
register. Charlie Parker's sax, though he also played
tenor. Great universal instrument. |
| Tenor |
John Coltrane's
favorite sax - though he started off on the alto. Great
universal instrument |
| Baritone |
Specialist
Sax for those real fruity low notes that make your bones
shake.The largest sax. |
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| Remember
that it's relatively easy to swap from one to another.
The fingering is almost identical on all the saxes. Some
changes in your embouchure and a new way of holding the
instrument are all that need be faced. |
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| Only
a few years ago, children were often presented with a
clarinet to start on if they want to learn the saxophone
as a sax was twice the price. Prices now though are very
similar, which is great coz many kids just didn't dig
their clarinet - and gave up. |
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| HOME |
Weavers Hall, Bank Close, Newburgh, Fife
KY14 6EG
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email: james
mobile: 07970 744986
landline:01337 842434 |
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